Tree guard



' Dec. 27, 1927.

V. L. WILSON ET AL Pntentecl Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALENIINE LELND WILSON AND ALEXANDER STERGIOS, O]? PAPEEIE, TAHITI, SOCIETY ISLANDS.

TREE GUARD.

Application filed October 10, 1925.

Our invention relates to a device for preventing the climbing oi tree trunks by animale such as climbing rodents and marsupials.

An object ci? the invention is to provide a devine of the character deecribed which is extremeiy efiicient and at the same time is inexpensive to manufacture.

1-rnother object oi the invention is to provide a device 01 the character described which may be attached to and posiiivelv held operatively positioned on a tree-trnnr without n1arring the same.

A inrther object oi the invention is to provide a device oi the character deecribed Which may be assembled in the form 01" a continuons strip adapted to be wound on a drum or the like, and frorn which pieces of appropriate iength may be out for use on tree-irunks 01: diierent girths.

Our invention possessee other objecte and :ieatures of advantage, eorne of which, Wiilt the foregoing, Will be set forth in the foliowing description of the preerred form of our invention Which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part 01 the specifieation. It is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the showing made by the said drawings and descriptions, as we may adopt variations of the preferred form Within the scope of our invention as set iorth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of a section of the guard.

Figure 2 is a view taken on the line 22 in Figure 1 showing a prong unit of the guard operatively disposed against a tree trnnk.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing the guarcl operatively disposed about a t *ee trunk.

Figure 4 is a vierv similar to that of Fig-- ure 2 showing a modified form of the prong unit.

In many places, and particnlarlyin tropical countries, the successful production et fruits and nuts is serionsly interfered vvith by animale which ciirnb the trees to eat and otherwiee destroy the crope. It thereiore be co1nes neccssary to prevent the scaling of the trees by these animale in order to permit of profitable production, which object is acconp piished by our invention in an extremely simple and efficient manner. Briefiy expreseed, the device of our invention com- Serial No. 61,661.

prises a guard provided by supporting around the tree trunk a rovv oi prongs which are arranged to extend outwardly and clownwardly of the trunk so as to present against an animal, Which niay attempt to climb past thc1n, an endless barrier oi sharp pointe. T i'aCilitate the handling and positioning of the pronged members they are preferably 1nounted in properly epaced relation along a relatively stiff but flexible connecting 1nem ber which may be bent to girdle a tree trunk in conformity with its shape and thereby po sition the prongs in a 1OW in iroperly spaced relation on the trunk and in desired anQular relation thereto.

In the preeent embodiment of our inventien, prong units or members 5 are providod having npper and lower prong portions 6 and 7 extcnding theroirom and prczEcrably sharpenecl. T1ie prongs 6, it will be noted, are longer than are the pronge 7 and are preierably iixedly aesoeiatcd with their rorre sponding prongs 6 by means 01 a connecting or base portion 8 of the 1ne1nber. As here shown, the Portions 6, 7 and 8 of the member are made integral and are conveniently iorrned of Wire of such size as to provide a structure of requisite etiffness.

The 1nembers 5, it may be noted, could be secured to the tree with the prongs 6 and 7 positioned to extend outwardly thereirorn, by the use of etaples or similar fastening means. But fastening the members 5 in this 1nanner Will not be fonnd generally practicable since it involves the separate handling and securing of a large number et pieces, and it is not always feasible or desirable to drive aeteners into many kinds of trees on whieh the guard may be desirably mounted. Accordingly, 1neans are provided for simpliiying the monnting process by the preassembly of a plurality oi members 5 to form. a single guard unit which may be secured t0 a tree trunk in a quick and simple manner. As here shown, such 1neans comprise: a band or girdle member 11 on which the members 5 are arranged to be 1nounted in spaced relation. In the present enrbodiment a loop 12 is provided in the portion 8 of the 1nember 5 through Which one of two wire strande 13 is arranged to be passed, the wires 13 being twisted together between adjacent 1nembers 5. By forming the 100133 12 with a pluraiity of turns, the members 5, it Wlll be noted, will be effectively held fixed on and Y with respect to the band member. If desired, and as here shown, the prong 7 may be Ormed to have aportion9 adjacent the base portion 8which;is arranged t0 bear against the tree and thereby prevent the point of the Prong from being positioned therea'gainsc. v

As here illustrated, the point of the prongs 7 lies inwardly of 'that of the prongs 6, and between them when the devi.de s viewed as in Figure 3, but'it Will be readil understood that other relationships mightbe desirable. It Will also be undexstood that the prongs, instead of being disposed in superposed planes, may be arranged in a common plane,

, and that as many prongs, or sets or rows of theprongsmay be supported by the gird]e as conditions might warrant. Furthermore, andas here shown, :it may be desirable to brace the prongs 6 after the device is installed by connecting'the prongs 6 with a strand ISpreerably secured to the prongs ,positioning of the prngs and thereby hold thein propery dsposed.

In the embodirx1er1tshown in Figure 4, the prongs 6 and 7 are both'provded with portions 15 and 16 wh'ch are arranged to bear against the tree trunk 14, s0 thatas the 1 guird is positioned about the tree rotation of the girdle and prongs will be positively prevented in either direction. 40

Since the gard of or invention will be uSed about trees; of difierent girths, a phlrality of guard units is desimbly primarily formed by securing the members 5 in spaced relation along strands 13 of considerable length, the resnlting assembly being ada ted to be rolled on a drum or spool from w lich guard units may be eut having the difierent required lengths. In this manner, waste of material is avoided, and a convenient method of handling is provided.

VVe claim:

1. Stock for tree guards comprising a continuons strand of flexible material arranged to be ont into sections of suitable length to encircle tree trunks, and provided with a plurality of similar numbem providing pairs of wire prongs similarly and fixedly positioned therealong to terminate at substantially the saine side of said strand whemby aH of said prongs will cxtend omflwardly from a trunk where one of said strand soctions is fixed therearonnd, a prong of each of said pairs thereof being shorter than the. other, the shorter of said rongs being a1- ranged to lie inwardly 0 the longer and under the same.

2. A tree guard comprising a band arranged to be fixed about a tree trunk comprising, a plurality of prongs fixedly secured at their to said band and terminating at substantially the same side of said strand whereby e111 of said prongs may extend outwardiy from said trunk and said band may lie against said trunk when said band is fixed about sad trunk, and means exclusive of said band and positioned outmwdly therefron1 for securing said prongs together.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set 0ur hands at Papeete, Tahiti, this 21st day of September, 1925.

VALEN TIN E LELAND VVILSON. ALEXANDER STERGIOS. 

